Chester Cathedral bosses are taking a significant step towards reducing their carbon footprint this week, by installing roof-mounted solar panels onto the cathedral’s roof.
The ancient monastic building is the principal place of Christian worship in Cheshire, and the largest heritage site in Chester.
It welcomes over 300,000 visitors per year and relies on public donations to cover energy costs.
The Church of England, in recognising the climate emergency, called on all parts of the organisation to become net zero carbon by 2030.
The installation of solar panels in Chester is one part of the cathedral’s activity towards becoming that goal.
The panels themselves will be in three sections on the cathedral roof, and will provide a significant portion of the electricity required to run the site.
It’s thought they will lead to a reduction of approximately 12.39 tCO2 each year.
Dean of Chester, V Rev Dr Tim Stratford said: “Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Chester and has a responsibility to be sustainable.
“For us, sustainability includes ensuring that we are doing everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint and lessen our negative impact on our planet.
“It also means ensuring that we can fund the essential work carried out on our magnificent cathedral.
“The installation of solar panels on the roof will achieve both aims, in reducing the amount of fossil fuels burnt to heat our building; and in the longer-term reducing the cost required to provide this fuel.”
Work to install the solar panels will take place throughout July.
